• Lending a helping hand in the DR

    Despite the fact I have served in the military for 26 years, every humanitarian mission I have served as a physician's assistant is a new experience and adventure. My last humanitarian mission was in the beautiful Dominican Republic, where we provided medical care to 8,532 people of Puerto Plata in

  • Natural disaster season, insurance claims, and you

    It's that time of year again - it's now officially hurricane season here in the lightning capital of the United States! Should severe weather strike MacDill AFB and cause any damage, you'll want to know how the Air Force Claims Service Center can help. The following is some general information

  • Buc rookies visit MacDill

    Becoming a professional football player is about more than making touchdowns or making tackles; young players also have to learn how to score points with their local community.A bit of that special, off-the-field training took place at MacDill Friday, when several Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie players

  • To vaccinate or not to vaccinate

    That is the age-old question that is resurfacing with the recent outbreak of pertussis ("whooping cough") in Hillsborough County, which is primarily due to inadequate immunity of the local population. That immunity could be corrected through vaccination. Of course, if you are active duty, the point

  • MacDill Airmen: honorary captains at USMNT World Cup

    Two MacDill Airmen were awarded the role of honorary captains during the first game of the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team 2014 World Cup qualifier, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, June 8. With more than 23,000 in attendance, Staff Sgt. Dieudonne Batawila and Senior Airman Eduardo Flores, both

  • It's time to take heat seriously

    "The heat was hot," read a famous opening line of a story once entered in a bad writing contest.The inane and redundant nature of the sentence aside, it nevertheless sums up what we've been experiencing of late around Tampa Bay. So what is it that makes the heat hot? Three things, according to the

  • More than 500 join Fitness Month events

    The numbers are in, and with more than 500 participants May Fitness Month was a huge success at the MacDill Short Fitness and Sports Center. Kicking off the month was a walking and running incentive, in which more than 70 people tracked their steps for 31 days. Some participants walked more than

  • Use, possession of 'Bath Salts' forbidden

    The powerful mind bender known as Bath Salts may be available in some states and online, but any Airman worth his or her salt should know this dangerous substance is off limits under Air Force rules. Bath Salts, which is not to be confused with Epsom Salts or other substances added to bath water,

  • Meet the new LRS commander

    Maj. Gilbert Collin assumed command of the 6th Logistics Readiness Squadron, May 31. He took time out to introduce himself to the MacDill community and answered a few questions from the ThunderboltThunderbolt: What do you expect of the Airmen under your command? Collin: My expectation is simple: I